Acid Reflux Treatment Options
6/17/2024
Twenty percent of Americans – one in five individuals – experience heartburn at least once a week. While it’s common, don’t take heartburn lightly. Frequent indigestion may indicate a serious health problem known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – severe or chronic acid reflux that can lead to complications such as sleep disorders, esophageal bleeding or ulcers, and cancer. The most common symptom of GERD is frequent heartburn. Other signs and symptoms may include regurgitation of sour food or liquid, difficulty swallowing, coughing, wheezing and chest pain, especially when lying down at night.
Heartburn is caused by stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. Overeating isn’t the only cause of acid reflux. It can also be triggered by medications, exercise, obesity, pregnancy, stress, chronic health conditions – such as asthma, diabetes or a hernia – or sleeping in certain positions.
It may be possible to control heartburn with lifestyle changes or over-the-counter medications. If your heartburn does not respond to lifestyle changes or medications, your healthcare provider will test for GERD. A few methods commonly used to diagnose GERD include an upper GI exam (x-rays of the upper digestive tract), endoscopy (insertion of a flexible tube down the throat to examine the inside of your esophagus and stomach), or an ambulatory acid probe test (monitoring the timing and frequency of stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus, using a catheter or chip inserted in the esophagus).
Medications for GERD include antacids, which neutralize stomach acid for quick relief, but don’t heal the esophagus; H-2 receptor blockers, which reduce acid production, acting slower but lasting longer than antacids to provide symptom relief; and proton pump inhibitors, which block acid production and heal the esophagus. These medications are also available through your doctor in prescription-strength versions.
When medications fail to relieve GERD, surgery is usually considered. Various surgical procedures can strengthen the esophageal sphincter and prevent the backflow of stomach acid. Minimally invasive surgical advances (such as laparoscopic surgery) often lead to a less painful and faster recovery. Fundoplication is the most common surgery for GERD. In most cases, it leads to long-term improvement of GERD symptoms. During the operation, a surgeon sews the top of your stomach around the end of your esophagus to add pressure to the lower esophageal sphincter and help prevent reflux.
You don’t have to live with heartburn or gastric discomfort. These conditions are more common than you probably think, and your healthcare provider can help you discover both the cause and the solution. If you need help finding a provider experienced in the diagnosis or treatment of GERD, visit Navarro-Docs.com.
Source:
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults/treatment.
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